Despite having spent an unsociable number of hours on the social network, we had no idea it could do this.
Open a conversation in Facebook Messenger and write "@fbchess play".
The following box should appear.
Look! It's a little chess board in your Messenger conversation! Neat!
However, you'll need a good deal of patience and an understanding of chess notation if you and a friend are going to complete a full game.
By entering "@fbchess help" you'll be presented with the following hint sheet:
- Start game with random colors: @fbchess play
- Pick the colors: @fbchess play white/black
- Pick the opponent: @fbchess play white John
- Make a move: use Standard Algebraic Notation:
@fbchess e4 or @fbchess Pe4 moves pawn to e4
Nbd2 to move knight from b-file to d2
B2xc5 to take on c5 with 2nd rank bishop
e8=Q to promote pawn to queen
0-0-0 or O-O to castle - Claim draw (e.g. 3-fold repetition): @fbchess draw claim
- Offer a draw in the current position: @fbchess draw offer
- Offer an undo of the last move: @fbchess undo
- Resign: @fbchess resign
- Show current position: @fbchess show
- Show stats between current players: @fbchess stats
- Continue a game from another conversation: @fbchess continue
- From 1:1 conversation, @fbchess continue with [friend]
- From group chat, @fbchess continue from [thread name]
Got that? Good.
First noticed on Reddit by jargonaughtm, it's not known how long the function has been hiding away in Facebook's Messenger function - nor what other turn-based games might be waiting to be discovered.
Anyone for a game of @fbbattleships? Or @fbdarts?
Make it happen, Zuckerberg.
